Sustainable Management Scheme Collaborative Projects

© Crown Copyright 2018 ISBN Number: 978-1-78937-984-6

Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development

Programme 2014-2020

WG35811

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Contains OS d ata © Crown Copyrigh t and d atabase righ t 2018

Cartograph y By T SD GI Policy Unit

Reprod uced by perm ission of Ordnance Surv ey on beh alf of HMSO. © Crown copyrigh t and d atabase righ t 2019. All righ ts reserv ed .

Welsh Gov ernm ent. Licence num ber 100017916. Cartograph y by EUE&SU Ref: 18_1791

Su stainable Management Scheme Projects

Welsh Government Ru ral Commu nities –Ru ral Development Programme 2014-2020

Su stainable Management Scheme Projects - Measu re 16.5(PW) to represent Pan Wales¬1 Barrog Natural Catc h m ent Managem ent¬2 Biod iv ersity Means Business¬3 Build ing Resilience in Catc h m ents (BRICs)¬4 Cain Valley Sustainable Land & Water Managem ent Project¬5 Cam lad Valley Projec t¬6 Coertir Anian – Cam brian Wild wood

¬7 Collaborativ e Sustainable Natural Flood Risk Managem ent on the Riv er Clwyd

¬8 Connec ting Com m unities with Nature: Halkyn Mountain¬9 Cydweith red u Com in – Com m on Collaboration¬10 Cynllun Dalgylc h Yr Afon Eden Catc h m ent Projec t¬11 Deliv ering Paym ents for Ecosystem Serv ices: Pum lum on¬12 Dolau Dyfi Meadows

¬13 Dunes to Dunes – Sustainable Managem ent of Brid gend Coastal Land sc ape

¬15 Elwy Valley Land sc ape¬16 Farm ing the Gwent Levels Sustainably¬17 Fferm Ifan Ecosystem Serv ice Im prov em ent Sc h em e¬18 Golygfa Gwydyr – People and Forest¬19 Growing Better Connections: Biod iv ersity in our Com m unities¬20 Healing & Mem ory (South West Anglesey)¬21 Increasing Resilience in Iconic Welsh wood land s (PW)¬22 Integrated Welsh Wood land s: Nature Based Solutions (PW)¬23 Irfon Catc h m ent Resilient Fresh water Habitats¬24 Local LAND Projec t T alley & Cwm d u¬25 Managing Resources Sustainably in th e Blac k Mountains¬26 Monm outh sh ire Heath land s¬27 Nant Alan land m anagem ent and clim ate resilience¬28 Natural Solutions to Land scapes for Liv ing¬29 North Wales Moorland Partnersh ip

¬30 Our Riv er Wellbeing: NatureBased Solutions in Dee Catc h m ent¬31 Pennal 2050¬32 Powys Moorland Partnersh ip

¬33 Realising the Natural Capitalof Welsh Peatland s (PW)¬34 Restoration of Rhos Pasture¬35 South East Wales Resilient Upland s¬36 Sustaining the Caerph illy Land scape¬37 T aff Bargoed Catc h m ent Restoration¬38 T h e T h ree Parish es - for th e Com m on Good¬39 T ir a Môr Llyn – Land and Sea¬40 Uwc h Gwyrfai Com m on Com m unity Links¬41 Wild Skills Wild Spaces Project¬42 Wood land s for Water¬43 Wye Ithon & Severn Ecosystem s (WISE)

¬14 Dyffryn T ywi – T irwed d Hanes Ein Bro - T ywi Valley Historic Land c ape

Sustainable Management Scheme Collaborative Projects

Window 1

Managing Resources Sustainably in the Black Mountains Lead organisation: Brecon Beacons National Park Authority Email: Bradley.Welch@beacons-npa.gov.uk Grant Award: £1,004,155 Location: Black Mountains, Brecon Beacons National Park

A collaborative project from the Black Mountains Land Use Partnership, engaging local landowners, graziers and regulatory bodies it aims to bring about positive social, economic and environmental change through the implementation of cooperative and sustainable land management across the black mountains landscape. Project activities will include bracken management, heather regeneration and the protection of peat resources. Planned improvements to livestock access will help with stock management and provide a better visitor experience to the area. The focus will be on peatland and bracken management in tandem with improving the visitor experience in the area and engaging local communities who will be involved through developing a rural skills programme, engagement with schools and the creation of employment opportunities.

Collaborative Sustainable Natural Flood Risk Management on the River Clwyd Lead organisation: Cadwyn Clwyd Cyfyngedig Email: sarah.jones@cadwynclwyd.co.uk SMS Award: £ 330,000 Location: River Clwyd, Pwllglas, south of Ruthin to Bod Petryal, outskirts of Clocaenog forest

A landscape scale project to reduce peak flows into the river Clwyd and improve biodiversity through natural land based interventions and understanding their wider benefits if applied across the larger catchment. The longer term aim is to better understand the opportunity for collaboration between farmers, landowners and the public in habitat creation, reducing flood flows and improving water to benefit the local area. It is hoped that this project will be able to help deliver longer term solutions to the flooding issues effecting people and businesses in the area.

Realising the Natural Capital of Welsh Peatlands Lead organisation: Snowdonia National Park Authority Email: rhys.owen@eryri.llyw.cymru Marian.Pye@eryri.llyw.cymru Grant Award: £ 924,956 Location: Pan Wales

A project, taking collaborative action with stakeholders, including communities, to transform and improve peatlands across Wales. Improvements include ecological stability and long-term sustainable management of peatlands. It is hoped to deliver the project on spatial (e.g. catchments) and sectoral (e.g. protected sites) scales, as well as developing the expertise and capacity of partners to deliver peatland restoration. This project will help deliver the 2020 target to bring peatlands into sustainable management. Coordinated action will deliver multiple environmental benefits through collaboration with existing mechanisms together with capital works covering the current ‘difficult to do’ sectors of peatland restoration, leading to longer term sustainable management supported through payment for ecosystem services (PES). Other critical activities will lead to more coordinated and coherent approaches covering external funding, training, education, PES procurement, monitoring and research activities relevant to Welsh peatlands.

Building Resilience In Catchments (BRICs) Lead organisation: PLANED Email: paul.renfro@pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk emmat@planed.org.uk Grant Award: £609,549 Location: Pembrokeshire

A project, led by PLANED, delivering landscape scale collaborative action, bringing together partners from across the supply chain including land managers, industry, land managers and communities in three catchment locations to develop climate change mitigation plans, take action to improve soil and water management, and related habitat measures. It is hoped work will be undertaken in three diverse sub-catchments involving approximately 100 farms to deliver actions on climate change mitigation by improving soil and water management and related habitat measures; further benefits include the protection of drinking water intake

Delivering Payments for Ecosystems Services: Pumlumon Lead organisation: Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Email: clive@montwt.co.uk Grant Award: £269,319 Location: Cambrian Mountains

A collaborative project bringing together local communities, land managers, statutory agencies and businesses to reconnect them socially and economically with the natural environment of their area. By building in a process of collaborative learning with other PES projects and organisations around Wales and beyond, it is hoped this project will deliver significant additional value. The step to securing tangible PES agreements is one that many pioneering schemes and projects are yet to make; by pooling knowledge and sharing learning from this project with other PES pioneers, this project can make a real contribution to progress on PES more widely. Building on previous work this project will explore and research new approaches to establishing Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) agreements as a long-term and self-sustaining support mechanism for the SMNR.

Fferm Ifan Ecosystem Service Improvement Scheme Lead organisation: Fferm Ifan Email: ffermifan@gmail.com Grant Award: £696,352 Location: Upper Conwy Area

A collaborative farmer led project taking landscape scale action on land management to improve ecosystem resilience and the services they provide. A cooperation of 11 farmers, Fferm Ifan seek to improve and manage natural resources in a more sustainable and efficient way. The project covers approximately 2,456 Ha and includes new targeted land management actions which will also deliver socio-economic benefits to the 11 farms and to the wider rural community Fferm Ifan live within.

Barrog Natural Catchment Management Lead organisation: Coed Cymru Cyf Email: garethd@coedcymru.org.uk Grant Award: £299,728 Location: Llanfair Talhaiarn, Conwy

A project, led by Coed Cymru Cyf, bringing together partners from the local farming community to deliver changes in land management practices within the Nant Barrog and Elwy catchments to increase attenuation and minimise flood risks downstream at Llanfair Talhaiarn village. It is intended to manage the risk of flooding through natural land based interventions such as hedge and gully planting, improved management of riverine woodland, woody debris dams and changes to land management which will attenuate run-off and reduce the peak flow on downstream flood defences.

Integrated Welsh Woodlands: Nature Based Solutions Lead organisation: Coed Cymru Cyf Email: garethd@coedcymru.org.uk Grant Award: £413,194 Location: Pan Wales

A landscape scale project supporting priority regions across Wales to maintain and create woodland and to restore, maintain and create hedgerows, which provide a wide range of benefits and comprise more than half the woodland cover in Wales. It seeks to put in place delivery mechanisms to ensure: (a) the condition of Wales’ woodland is maintained and enhanced and (b) that woodlands and trees fully realise their potential within the landscape of Wales, to continue to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits.

Golygfa Gwydyr: People and Forest Lead organisation: Golygfa Gwydyr Email: rogerd@golygfagwydyr.org) Grant Award: £232,478 Location: Conwy

A community focused project which is hoping to build on the skills development and capacity building started and achieved under the Nature Fund. In its centre are the management and usage of land resources to: improve bio diversity and recreation facilities; develop sustainable community management systems; and promote sustainable communities with enhanced wellbeing and sense of place.

Powys Moorland Partnership Lead organisation: Ireland Moor Conservation Ltd Email: will@irelandmoor.com Grant Award: £600,000 Location: Powys

A landscape scale project to encourage moorland restoration through bottom-up collaborative action driven by communities living and working on and around the moors. It seeks to realise multiple benefits including public health, skills sharing and education. Key stakeholders including landowners, farmers, and communities will create a vibrant moorland environment to boost biodiversity, delivering economic and social benefits. It is hoped to create an exciting strategic initiative in Powys and realise the full potential of nearly 20,000 acres of moorland stretching from the Llanthony Valley in the south of the county to Beguildy common in the north, which can be enjoyed by communities as well as attracting tourism and new business opportunities to boost rural employment and stimulate rural economy.

Cynllun Dalgylch Yr Afon Eden Catchment Project Lead organisation: Snowdonia National Park Authority Email: Rhys.Owen@eryri-npa.gov.uk Grant Award: £815,444 Location: Eden Valley, Gwynedd

A farmer led project centred on the improving ecological quality of the Afon Eden and its tributaries at catchment scale by planting and managing native deciduous trees; further benefits include improved natural habitats, erosion prevention, a reduction of greenhouse gases and less fossil fuel use. It is planned that a group of up to 22 farm businesses, in this area of special conservation will collaborate on the project. The overarching theme of this project is improving the river catchment, particularly with regard to the conservation of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel. This will be achieved by working with farmers and engaging the local community to undertake a range of measures which will improve ecological resilience and provide sustainable land management.

Window 2 Pennal 2050 Lead organisation: Partneriaeth Pennal Ltd Email: pennalpartners@aol.com Grant Award:: £848,283 Location: Dyfi Catchment Area, Pennal The project – Pennal 2050 – is an ambitious long term strategic plan to build a resilient and sustainable environment and rural community based on a landscape scale collaborative community partnership of more than 40 partner landowners, community groups, environmental organisations, farming unions and local businesses including the tourism, leisure, health, farming and recreation sectors and Natural Resources Wales. The plan is centred on addressing a number of local challenges including better coastal and upland catchment flood management and alleviation; improved water/river quality; enhanced biodiversity and habitats; improved access provision; increased employment, tourism and health opportunities; strengthen of economic and social resilience. Working together as a community and drawing on local expertise and involving all across the community the project aims to tackle the key threats in the Dyfi catchment area. Tir a Môr Llŷn – Land and Sea Lead organisation: Cyngor Gwynedd Council Email: arweljones@gwynedd.llyw.cymru Grant Award: £700,000 Location: Llŷn Peninsula This collaborative project led by the Llŷn Landscape Partnership brings together statutory, environmental, economic and social groups. The project is centred on addressing the challenges impacting on the natural resources in the area. Communities within the Llŷn Peninsula rely on and benefit from their natural resources. This project therefore aims to maintain and expand a continuous strip of diverse habitat around the coastline, working with farmers to create connectivity corridors linked to the Wales coastal path, opening up recreational opportunities, benefitting health. It will also develop good practice in catchment management and invasive species control, producing significant economic and social benefits when allied to agricultural improvements and to socio-cultural resources such as the Wales Coast path. The Project will also be exploring the concept of ‘payment on outcomes’ with the help of three National Trust farms. The aim is to create a model and encourage the wider community to pilot and run the new approach. The Partnership has developed a collaborative and cooperative approach on a

local level, allowing all involved to engage, develop and implement practical work plans quickly and seamlessly. The Partnership will build trust and positive collaborative working in the area to help deliver this project. Time will be spent on engaging the wider community through holding local events and engaging local schools to raise awareness of the benefits of the work. Uwch Gwyrfai Common Community Links Lead organisation: Snowdonia National Park Authority Email: Rhys.Owen@eryri-npa.gov.uk Grant Award: £418,010 Location: Caernarfon, Gwynedd This project operates in the geographically varied area of the Uwch Gwyrfai Common stretching from an area of ‘urban’ fringe to the remote summit of Mynydd Mawr. It incorporates a variety of habitats, with large areas of heath along with acid grassland, a lake, flushes and some mire as well as abandoned slate quarries and some sites of archaeological interest. This innovative project seeks to transform the Uwch Gwyrfai Common by reconnecting it with local communities. It aims to enable graziers to work better together to graze the Common to both improve biodiversity and benefit the local rural economy. Practical activities will focus on reducing fire risk in the area through scrub removal and management; it will also improve stock management and grazing regimes to help improve habitats, soils and water quality. The project aims to bring local community groups, school children and community councils together to identify what needs to happen to improve and increase access and recreational use of the common, creating educational opportunities, areas for enjoyment and physical activities and contribute to creating a sense of place. Connecting Communities with Nature: Halkyn Mountain Lead organisation: Flintshire County Council Email: Saul.Burton@flintshire.gov.uk Grant Award: £285,000 Location: Halkyn Mountain, Flintshire

The Halkyn Mountain project is set on a 2,000 acre common, designated for its wide range of habitats shared between five communities. The common and its natural resources are central to the future prosperity of these communities. Project collaborators include Local Authorities, Natural Resources Wales, North Wales Wildlife Trust, the Fire and Rescue Services, a quarry and landowners.

This collaborative project aims to improve the economic value of the common and invigorate farm businesses. The common has been grazed for centuries but has experienced a continual decline of the practice over the years. Grazing, if properly managed, is very important in the management of many of our semi-natural habitats, helping to allow native species to grow and better ground conditions for nesting birds, reptiles and seedling nurseries. A key objective of the project is to help improve the quality of the common to re-engage graziers, and to help encourage a younger generation into the grazing tradition.

By addressing the challenges facing the Common the project aims to create a good quality, well managed common land opening up recreational opportunities for the surrounding communities, develop skills to help enrich their lives, leading to more resilient and healthier communities.

Sustaining the Caerphilly landscape Lead organisation: Caerphilly County Borough Council Email: griffpa@caerphilly.gov.uk Grant Award: £295,987 Location: Caerphilly

The focus of this project is on a large expanse of land south of Caerphilly bordering on Cardiff and Newport. It contains a wide range of habitats and species and designated areas and is also used for recreational and leisure purposes. The area is surrounded by a number of communities some of which are the most deprived in the South Wales Valleys. The project will be taken forward collaboratively through the Caerphilly Landscape Partnership exploring a public service board model and including a wide variety of interested parties such as the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, the police, Woodland Trust, Keep Wales Tidy and Community Champions among others.

One of the key priorities will be to improve the diversity, accessibility and extent of outdoor recreational facilities in a way that doesn’t damage or compromise the habitats and species supported in the area. This will also include support for an NHS Exercise specialist to work with some of the deprived communities near Caerphilly looking at opportunities for supported walking exercise and sign posting natural areas for mild conditions that may benefit from being outside in these areas.

Biodiversity Means Business Lead organisation: North Wales Wildlife Trust Email: acljones@wildlifetrustswales.org Grant Award: £ 388,438 Location: Rural Wards of Holt and Marchwiel

The focus of this project is centred on the large (550ha) rurally located Wrexham Industrial Estate and its surrounding rural communities. Through a collaborative approach involving businesses, landowners, famers and community groups the aim is to improve the resilience of the ecosystems across the landscape while making the area positively attractive to businesses and providing easily accessible areas for people to enjoy a range of leisure activities and engaging with their local environment.

The project will prioritise both on the ground improvement activities as well as developing a strategic plan for the landscape to help sustain and deliver improvement and benefits into the future. A focus on green infrastructure including planting wildflowers, restoring public footpaths, planting native trees, encouraging the use of sustainable drainage and demonstrating soft engineering techniques will help with surface water retention and improve wildlife corridors as well as creating a nicer place to work for employees working in the area.

Engaging with the surrounding local communities and offering volunteering opportunities to become involved with the project are part of the projects long term approach and way of helping create a sense of ownership of the landscape by those working, living and enjoying the leisure opportunities of the area.

North Wales Moorland Partnership Lead organisation: Partneriaeth Rhostir Gogledd Cymru CBC North Wales Moorland Partnership CIC Email: Grant requested: £700,000 Location: Berwyn and Migneint, North Wales

This collaborative project based in the Berwyn and Migneint in North Wales is taking action on moorland enhancement through bottom-up collaborative action, driven by those living and working on and around the moors so that these uplands are able to help sustain the surrounding rural communities. The landscape has a variety of habitats and is enjoyed by a large number of visitor and communities attracting tourism and business opportunities. The area also experiences challenges such as fly-tipping, vandalism and illegal off-roading.

The project brings together a collaboration of landowners, farmers, communities and key organisations. Together they are taking action using scientific evidence and their skills and expertise to address the challenges and improve heather management and grazing regimes to bring the habitat

back into favourable condition. The long term aim is to achieve the return of grouse, lapwing, curlew and golden plover. Through helping landscape-scale species recovery , tackling tick control and restoring areas of peat bogs the project will help sustain the ecosystem services vital to the uplands communities particularly carbon storage, water retention, flood risk alleviation, and restoration of heather habitat. This will in turn make significant contributions to the local economy, local job creation, tourism opportunities and skill development helping to secure the future of these upland communities and making the area more enjoyable to visitors. Dolau Dyfi Meadows Lead organisation: Pont Cymru Email: julia.korn@pontcymru.org Grant requested: £ 467,114 Location: Lowland area of the Dyfi catchment, Gwynedd This collaborative project is focused on joining up natural resources with health and well-being benefits in the Dyfi area. The collaboration includes Local Authorities, landowners, Snowdonia National Park Authority, RSPB, Montgomery Wildlife Trust and Keep Wales Tidy and aims to grow as the project develops with input from the public and surrounding communities. The area has seen a dramatic loss of its lowland semi-natural grassland, and it also has a higher than Wales/UK prevalence (%) of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and poor mental health. The project aims to help tackle these challenges by improving targeted areas of the landscape and connecting people with nature. Investment will be made in 35 areas to improve habitat management and facilitate sustainable grazing to help enhance ecosystem resilience. Investment will also be available for access works and promotion, encouraging locals and visitors to use the outdoors and create safe spaces and enjoyable places to visit. Further activities include establishing a local volunteer network, art projects and a potential “walking to health” programme. Project beneficiaries include farm businesses and rural communities, including through the employment of local contractors and boosts for local tourism businesses.

Natural Solutions to Landscapes for Living Lead organisation: Denbighshire County Council (Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ) Email: Rachel.jones@denbighshire.gov.uk Grant Award: £561, 391 Location: Clwydian Range and Dee Valley The collaborative approach to this project brings together 10 organisations with a common goal to tackle issues impacting on the rural communities across their landscape. The shared aim is to unlock the potential of approximately 40 sites across the landscape to improve habitats and soil condition, reverse the loss of species, improve nutrient recycling and increase the amount of carbon store potential. The sites vary from upland locations to coastal dune habitats providing important flood control functions. Activities will tackle encroachment of scrub across recreational areas, opening up key viewing points and providing solutions to sustaining access. Improving green areas on the edge of urban communities and organising educational and community events around stocking and gathering animals aims to raise awareness of the benefits and opportunities the landscape provides. The project aims to help rejuvenate traditional land management skills alongside the development of new skills and potential business opportunities drawing on the breadth of experience across the range of collaborators and through the engagement of young people in the area. Increasing Resilience in Iconic Welsh Woodlands Lead organisation: Coed Cymru Cyf Email: garethd@coedcymru.org.uk Grant Award: £ 563,400 Location: Several locations across Wales This project aims to focus on and improve our iconic Welsh woodland habitats and build up resilience to sustain the benefits and business opportunities these woodlands provide to their surrounding communities. As most of these iconic and ancient woodlands are held in private ownership collaboration between landowners, managers and users is key to success. The project will build on the existing engagement and partnership working happening in a number of woodland sites across Wales. This will enable the sharing of ideas and knowledge across these sites to ensure the right actions are taken forward to tackle threats such as invasive species and diseases. The project will also help increase timber production sustainably, explore other income generating opportunities and test options for post Brexit support for woodlands to help move towards self-sustaining models of support.

Our River Wellbeing: Nature Based Solutions in the Dee Catchment Lead organisation: North Wales Wildlife Trust Email: lynbyrne@wildlifetrustswales.org Grant Award: £700,000 Location: River Dee catchment in North Wales The focus of this project spans the entire Dee catchment in North Wales including several rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The area encompasses five local authorities, the National Park and includes several designated land areas. Covering both urban and rural communities, the quality of the natural resources in the catchment can impact on a large number of people. There are numerous challenges facing the catchment from flooding, soil erosion and water quality issues through to long term unemployment and social deprivation. Recognising this, the project aims to take actions to improve the natural resources across the catchment and in doing so provide opportunities for people, including long term unemployed and disabled individuals, to learn about and actively take part in land management improvements. The project will develop a ‘River Guardian Scheme’ to help achieve this. The project has already developed a group of collaborating organisations including Dee Valley AONB, Natural Resources Wales, Wildlife Trusts, the Clwydian range and National Park. The main land management activities will be based around helping to improve the non native invasive species problem across the whole catchment that is having a huge impact on the quality of the natural resources and the services these provide. Through a comprehensive baseline survey the project will then be able to focus and prioritise its activities to tackle this challenge. South East Wales Resilient Uplands Lead organisation: Torfaen County Borough Council Email: andrew.osborne@torfaen.gov.uk) Grant Award: £399,000 Location: Torfaen, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent The upland landscape across Torfaen, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent faces a number of challenges from landscape crime, loss of habitats and key species to poor infrastructure and fragmented communities. Building on previous wide scale community engagement the project will take forward new collaborative action to improve the uplands, support farm enterprise, improve visitor experiences and create more resilient communities. The project’s collaborative approach includes input from the three local authorities, the police, fire and rescue services, commons associations, action groups, farming unions and Brecon Beacons National Park. The initial focus will be on land management to improve soils and water quality, biodiversity, and carbon storage.

Strengthening relationships between stakeholders and commoners to support upland communities, building capacity through volunteering, training and community engagement, increasing farm competitiveness and viability through diversification and the development of innovative business opportunities will also be the project aims. The tackling of the underlying causes of upland degradation caused by poor land management and anti-social problems such as fly-tipping, arson and illegal off-roading and providing opportunities for quiet recreation and enhancing the area’s tourism offer will all be explored. Dunes to Dunes: Sustainable Management of Bridgend Coastal Landscape Lead organisation: Bridgend County Borough Council Email: Rhiannon.hardiman@bridgend.gov.uk) Grant Award: £312,541 Location: Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Bridgend The focus of this project spreads across and between the dune landscapes of the Kenfig Burrows and Merthyr Mawr Warren dune systems in South Wales. The projects aims to build a lasting collaboration of land and reserve managers, land owners, users and beneficiaries to help achieve the sustainable management of this coastal landscape to improve biodiversity and provide benefits to the local community. Habitat management works will help improve the resilience of the dunes ecosystem with increased biodiversity, better connectivity and stability being the main focus. The project will improve the look and accessibility of the area for visitors and enhance their experience through better signposting and advertising of walking routes and attractions. The project aims to maximise the health and well-being opportunities of the area through accessible well maintained walking routes and quality green spaces. The project will also work collaboratively with local businesses such as the Golf club supporting them with their ongoing sustainable performance with the ambition to achieve the GEO Certified Eco label. Work will also include woodland planting and harvesting and exploring the potential to use the wood as a renewable fuel source.

Window 3

Healing & Memory (South West Anglesey) Lead organisation: Bodorgan Environmental Management Ltd. Email: tim.dodd@bodorgan.com Grant requested: £595 000 Location: South West Anglesey

This collaborative landscape-scale project aims to revitalise the landscapes of South West Anglesey by improving the ecosystems and enhancing the access opportunities for people to enjoy the rich natural resources of the area. The collaboration comprises of local farmers, land owners, local community council members, Bangor University and environmental experts. The project includes action to improve riverine, wetland, coastal and terrestrial habitats.

The project seeks to improve access to the area both physically through improved infrastructure and socially by making available historic information and linking to remaining World War II military infrastructure. The project will create a new high quality footpath linking the area with the Wales Coastal Path and explore the potential for the creation of a new off-road cycle track linking local beaches and sites of interest. Work such as fencing and invasive species removal will also be done to help improve river banks to restore habitats and help improve water quality.

Coertir Anain - Cambrian Wildwood Lead organisation: Wales Wild Land Foundation CIC, Email: admin@cambrianwildwood.org) Grant Award: £ 566,024 Location: Machynlleth

Located in Bwlch Corog in the Cambrian Mountains this project focuses on a 140ha area aiming to restore ecologically degraded and unproductive land to improve the wildlife and natural processes, which will benefit an overall area of 3,000ha and its surrounding communities. The project will restore habitats connecting woodlands and heathlands helping to increase ecosystem resilience and improve the variety of wildlife. It will undertake activities such as blocking drainage grips and increasing woodland cover to help reduce and manage surface water flow, improve water quality, and increase carbon storage in soils and trees.

The project will also improve access to provide opportunities to exercise and enjoy nature. There are also plans for public engagement, opportunities for skill development, an educational programme for primary schools, courses for teenagers and activities on site, including volunteering.

Taff Bargoed Catchment Restoration Lead organisation: Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Email: Alyn.Owen@Merthyr.gov.uk Grant requested: £ 417,000 Location: Taff Bargoed River Catchment This project, led by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, aims to deliver sustainable catchment management of the Taff Bargoed river in Merthyr Tydfil. The collaboration consists of an established partnership group and members of the local community. At the heart of the project is the restoration of the silted up lake in Parc Taff Bargoed. In particular, the project seeks to implement sustainable upland interventions which will: restore a popular amenity for local communities to use and enjoy; reduce siltation of the water environment; enhance biodiversity and ecological resilience; improve water quality; and reduce the flood risk to local communities. Local farms, leisure businesses and the communities of Bedlinog, Trelewis and Treharris will be the key beneficiaries. The project will be complemented by work already underway in the area. National Resources Wales are undertaking a catchment assessment looking at opportunities and solutions to improve the catchment. And South East Wales Rivers Trust have recently been approved for RDP LEADER funding to undertake community engagement, education and skills project in the catchment. Together all these activities will work together to provide a strong foundation to deliver the sustainable management of natural resources in Taff Bargoed. Cydweithredu Comin – Common Collaboration Lead organisation: Gelliaer & Merthyr Commoners Association Email: commoners@gmx.co.uk) Grant requested: £ 255,987 Location: Gelligaer and Merthyr Commons This collaborative project seeks to improve the Gelligaer and Merthyr Common. Its membership includes Natural Resources Wales, Cadw, the Police, Merthyr Tydfil and Caerphilly County Borough Councils, the Gelligaer and Merthyr Commoners Association, residents and specific interest groups such as walkers, cyclists and the South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club. The group has a strong community representation to deliver actions designed to restore the Common’s landscape and create resilient ecosystems within it by adopting a Sustainable Management of Natural Resources approach. In addition the project seeks to address a number of social factors in particular anti-social behaviour like illegal off road vehicles, fly-tipping and roadside littering as well as fly-grazing and reduced land management.

Dyffryn Tywi : Tirwedd Hanes Ein Bro - Tywi Valley Historic Landscape Lead organisation: National Botanic Garden of Wales Email: rob.thomas@gardenofwales.org.uk) Grant requested: £ 698,000 Location: Tywi Valley, Carmarthenshire

This landscape scale collaborative project aims to join up and integrate the management of an area of the Tywi Valley between Carmarthen and Llandeilo to benefit wildlife, heritage and communities through a strengthened network of land owners, land managers, and experts.

The project will enable landowners and managers to access specialist information and advice to help to deliver improved ecosystem services alongside enhanced historic landscape management. Action will be taken to improve the historic parkland at the National Botanic Garden of Wales and make it a publicly accessible exemplar of the sustainable management of natural resources. The Gardens and the surround area are a great destination for a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities including walking, running, cycling , tree climbing and den building, archaeology, horticulture volunteering, ecological surveying and farm visiting.

The health improvement opportunities offered by the project also include working with Down To Earth, an award winning social enterprise, supporting people to bring about positive change in their lives through meaningful outdoor activity, specifically aimed at vulnerable audiences with mental health conditions and brain trauma injuries.

Growing Better Connections: Biodiversity in our Communities Lead organisation: Cwm Arian Renewable Energy (Care) Ltd Email: holly@cwmarian.org.uk Grant requested: £ 213,975 Location: Clydau,Crydmych,Cilgerran & St Dogmaels community wards

The Growing Better Connections project is a community-led land management initiative based in North Pembrokeshire to help improve community resilience to the impacts of climate change, to instil a sense of place and to improve community cohesion and well-being.

Improving the natural resources in the area and involving local people is central to achieving this. The project will operate in the wards of Clydau, Crymych, Cilgerran and St Dogmaels and will focus on defending and protecting existing areas of rich biodiversity, and increasing connectivity between these areas with activities including tree and hedgerow planting, fencing, drainage works and green infrastructure assessments.

The project offers opportunities for participation in citizen science, wider learning and skill development. The project seeks to invest in community activities, including planting orchards and opening up green spaces. In this way, the project is likely to not only contribute significantly to halting the decline in biodiversity in this part of Wales, but to implement sustainable change through community engagement and ownership. Farming the Gwent Levels Sustainably Lead organisation: RSPB Wales Email: Jonathan.Cryer@rspb.org.uk Grant Award: £ 554,953 Location: South East Wales Wetlands This collaborative project includes RSPB Wales, Natural Resources Wales and the Gwent Wildlife Trust working closely with farmers and other partners to develop the understanding, knowledge, skills and experience need to deliver the sustainable management of natural resources within the Gwent Levels. Participating farmers and project partners will take action to improve the natural resources in the area, particularly water and soil management. Actions to deliver these outcomes include habitat improvement and creation, offering significant potential to improve soil condition, and establishing habitat strips for pollinators, which will also act as buffers alongside water courses. Taking advantage of the flat geographical nature of its area the project seeks to maximise opportunities for traffic free cycling, as well as existing access and recreation facilities on farms, and creation of new facilities. Wye Ithon & Severn Ecosystems (WISE) Lead organisation: Wye and Usk Foundation Email: simon@wyeuskfoundation.org Grant requested: £ 530,215 Location: Llandrindod Wells to Knighton This collaborative project will work with an established catchment partnership, including landowners and local communities to improve the natural resources in four smaller and three larger catchments covering a large landscape travelling down a stretch of the Wye catchment. Action will be taken to improve soil quality in agricultural land, create woodland to maximise the potential for reducing flood risk, habitat improvement for better biodiversity and water quality and improved infrastructure on farmyards to reduce pollution. The project aims to involve the rural communities and agricultural businesses in the area to help them understand and take action to ensure long term improvement of ecosystems and understand the services these ecosystem

provide that are vital for helping address the impacts of climate change and flooding, and in turn providing opportunities for improved health and well-being. The project will also explore the potential for private investment to deliver benefits for water quality and carbon storage. Activities undertaken by the project will be supported by a comprehensive monitoring programme during the active project phase and after completion. Elwy Valley Landscape Lead organisation: The Deer Initiative, Email: lee.oliver@thedeerinitiative.co.uk Grant requested: £ 257,680 Location: Elwy Valley Elwy Valley Landscape is a collaborative landscape-scale project whose main aim is to focus on and improve our iconic Welsh woodland habitats. The project will provide expert advice and support for woodland owners to restore, manage, buffer and extend the woodland network, manage ancient trees and enhance connectivity between sites. Collaborative partners include landowners, managers and users. This collaborative approach is key to the project’s success as most of the iconic and ancient woodlands are held in private ownership. The project seeks to build on the existing engagement and partnership working taking place in a number of woodland sites across Wales. This will enable the sharing of ideas and knowledge across these sites to ensure progress is made, and issues like non-native species and diseases are handled effectively and efficiently. The project aims to create a comprehensive skills hub in the area, skills needed to manage the local woodland environment resulting in the better management of these habitats leading to a range of services and resilient ecosystems. The project has strong links with local businesses in the area, schools & colleges; and is engaging many sectors of the local community. Monmouthshire Heathlands Lead organisation: Gwent Wildlife Trust Email: nhart@gwentlife.org Grant requested: £ 424,521 Location: Beacon Hill, Broad Meend, Cleddon Bog and Whitelye Common This collaborative project seeks to restore and enhance habitats across the Monmouthshire Heathlands Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty landscape for future generations. This project will take action to prevent the ongoing, serious damage to these rare ecosystems and halt their decline, by providing new approaches and setting new objectives for relevant traditional management techniques. This

will be coupled with the scientific approaches needed to understand the detailed effects of management activities on these habitat types and on the characteristic and on the variety of species they support. The project also aims to improve the diversity and access to outdoor recreation facilities for local, national and international visitors for health and wellbeing benefit. It will specifically aim to engage with schoolchildren, local communities, local health and well-being programs, volunteers, tourists, conservation professionals, local businesses and contractors.

Window 4, projects invited to full application stage

Cain Valley sustainable land and water management project Lead organisation: Cain Valley Sustainable Land and Water Management CIC Email: ptgreensms@gmail.com Grant requested: £364,715 Location: Llanfyllin, Powys

The project is led by a partnership including the farming community of the Cain Valley catchment and aims to reduce diffuse pollution in the catchment to ‘slow the flow’, improve biodiversity, trial methods of invasive species removal, increase recreational opportunity, improve farm business resilience and improve community engagement/education of the value of the natural resources in the area.

Project activities will include construction of reedbeds, creating riparian corridors, planting and restoring new hedgerows and woodland, building otter holts, constructing riverside paths and creating a ‘natural community conservation area’, a forest garden and an area for outdoor pursuits for young people in the community. The project will also develop an education programme for local schools and groups and provide access to outdoor space for individuals with mental health conditions.

Camlad Valley Project Lead organisation: Camlad Valley Farmers, GWCT Email: Jill Jerman C/O Sue Evans sevans@gwct.org.uk) Grant requested: £ 585,000 Location: Camlad Valley, Powys, SY15 6DU

This is a farmer led project delivering landscape scale management with the aim of improving ecosystem resilience and enabling productive resilient agricultural businesses. The biodiversity of the Camlad Valley will be enhanced through bottom-up collaborative action taken by those that live and work in the area.

Landowners, farmers, communities and key stakeholders will focus on restoration of traditional lowland wet grassland habitat to deliver a healthy, resilient and diverse ecosystem. The project will take a placed base approach to shape and understand local priorities including actions to support their much loved, diminishing local population of ground nesting birds. The project will use these species as key indicators to measure the general health of the ecosystem as a whole. The project will also provide opportunities for involvement through volunteering and explore the benefits of this on health and wellbeing.

Irfon Catchment Resilient Freshwater Habitats Lead organisation: Freshwater Habitats Trust Email: gerwtkns@aol.com Grant requested: £ 684,437 Location: Afon Irfon, West of Builth Wells, Powys

The Irfon catchment in Mid-Wales is a Special Area of Conservation designated for its exceptional freshwater biodiversity. The project aims to deliver actions to improve the water quality through a collaboration of local farmers, landowners, rural businesses, foresters, statutory organisations, specialist freshwater NGOs and the water industry.

The project will deliver practical measures to tackle diffuse and point source pollution in strategic locations by reducing pollutant runoff through farm soil and nutrient management, tree and woodland planting, reducing point source inputs and implementing natural flood risk management (NFRM) techniques.

The project will encourage public engagement in the management and monitoring of water quality, using citizen science. Public engagement will also be encouraged to explore added recreation and tourism benefits. Social prescribing will be trialled in the area based around the water environment, to maximise health benefits. A comprehensive monitoring programme will ensure that actions and information from the project are of wide relevance to maintaining the resilience of freshwaters in Wales.

The Three Parishes - for the Common Good Lead organisation: Llanwrthwl Commoners and Graziers Association Email: frondorddu@talktalk.net) Grant requested: £695,300 Location: The project will be based on and around the commons of Llanwrthwl, Llysdinam and Llanfihangel Bryn Pabuan close to Newbridge-on-Wye and Rhayader (Powys)

The commoners of Llanwrthwl, Llysdinam and Llanfihangel Bryn-Pabuan have come together to actively manage their local commons creating a more sustainable resilient landscape supporting improved biodiversity. A large part of the project involves community participation to provide public benefit on and around their upland commons. This will include managing the heathland, the flora-rich rhos pasture, ffridd and woodland within the project area. Commoners and volunteer groups will also create and enhance existing pools and wetlands, tackle bracken using different techniques and graze sustainably with cattle and ponies.

The project also aims to increase outward bound opportunities and tourism by improving signage, interpretation and support for educational visits. The collaboration includes the National Trust and RSPB providing expertise in delivery, monitoring & evaluation.

Wild Skills Wild Spaces Project Lead organisation: Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Email: carla@montwt.co.uk Grant requested: £699,854 Location: 8 Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Reserves & Green Space within Montgomeryshire, Powys

Utilising an innovative collaboration between the Welsh NHS and the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT) the proposed project will deliver a range of nature-based solutions to improve the health, skills and well-being of our local communities. New and existing habitats will be created and managed with project groups to spend meaningful time understanding and managing areas of local wildlife value. Increased group skills and awareness will enable consistent, site specific enhancement to habitats that overtime will increase the biodiversity associated with the site.

The diversity of greenspace sites and nature reserves improved by the project will enable local communities to safely explore riverside habitats, woodlands, grasslands, canal side, wetland and upland environments. Activities will also be focused on improved natural flood risk management to slow the flow of flood water to surrounding land. Based within the Welshpool and Newtown areas of Powys, the project will also focus on developing a structured, accredited programme of nature based activities to enable people to participate in the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’, that improve health & wellbeing, develop new skills, build confidence and reduce social isolation. The aim is for this to be available for direct referral from the NHS and GP’s as well as openly to local communities across Montgomeryshire.

Restoration of Rhos Pasture Lead organisation: Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Email: Julian@rwtwales.org Grant requested: £349,200 Location: North Brecknock and West Radnorshire, Powys

This project is a collaboration of local farmers, land managers, tourism businesses, environmental groups and arts & culture businesses with the aim of landscape scale restoration of the iconic Welsh habitat of Rhos pasture in north Brecknock and west Radnorshire. The project will deliver actions to restore the existing marshy grassland areas to be more resilient, diverse, species rich grazing land. The outcomes of this work will include decreasing soil compaction, improving soil structure and enhancing the capacity to store carbon and water, slowing run-off and erosion. The existing Rhos Pasture will once again become connected as a continuous landscape feature.

In addition to improving the pasture the partnership will look at the feasibility of creating new consumer markets for Rhos Pasture reared produce and invest in the development of nature based tourism activities and infrastructure in the area. The collaboration will go on to celebrate the cultural, inspirational and aesthetical value of the Rhos Pasture habitat in a modern Wales.

Improved access for both local communities and visitors to the this special landscape will provide a range of recreational and outdoor exercise opportunities.

Woodlands for Water Lead organisation: North Wales Wildlife Trust Email: adrian.jones@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk) Grant requested: £682,614 Location: Alyn and Wheeler Rivers from their source to where the River Wheeler joins the River Clwyd and on the River Alyn to Mold.

The project area encompasses the River Wheeler and upper River Alyn and their surrounding land, supporting a range of important habitats including ancient woodland, unimproved grassland, heathland and wetlands. It includes one SAC (Alyn Valley Woods), eleven SSSIs, part of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB and areas of common land.

The project aims to better link people with wildlife-rich and promote opportunities and benefits which are low-impact and contribute to the local economy. The project will identify opportunities to include the development of walking routes, provision of new access infrastructure, better management of existing paths and targeted interpretation. The specific provision needed would be agreed through consultation with the public, local authority/AONB, landowners/managers and tourism providers.

Local LAND Project – Talley & Cwmdu Lead organisation: Talley Community Amenity Association Email:local.land.talley@gmail.com Grant requested: £520,000 Location: Area surrounding Talley & Cwmdu, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire

With a collaborative vision, the project aims to encompass in the region of 800 hectares of farmland and natural resources including the historic villages of Talley and Cwmdu. At the heart of the project is the development and usage of 24 hectares of a diverse habitat of community owned land, located in the village of Talley. Local residents and landowners have co-produced this project to address local challenges of social isolation, the lack of local business opportunities and the need for sustainable, resilient, land management practices and business.

The project activities will focus on; improving water retention in the uplands, improving water quality of the two Talley Lakes, development of wildflower meadows and diverse leys, tree planting and actively managed woodlands, improved access for people, better habitat connectivity and improving soil management. The community owned land will be developed to increase biodiversity and improve access for both residents and visitors to the area. The provision of infrastructure in this outdoor space will help create a more

attractive place for people in the community to use supporting the opportunities to improve health and wellbeing, social cohesion and a local sense of place.

Nant Alan land management and climate resilience project Lead organisation: Nant Alan land management and climate resilience project Email: ptgreensms@gmail.com Grant requested: £268,020 Location: Nant Alan Valley, Llanfihangel, Powys

The project aims to improve biodiversity and make the Nant Alan valley and its catchment more resilient. Downstream from the catchment area suffers from flooding problems with consequences for businesses, farmers and their livestock. The project will focus on activities to help tackle diffuse pollution, reduce surface water flow, and restore broadleaved woodland. It will also create a forest school hub for community use, increase recreational opportunity, improve farm business resilience and improve community engagement. Land management activities will include reedbed construction, the creation of new ponds, hedgerows and new woodland planting, restoring of ancient woodland sites. The project will also carry out a school/community engagement programme and create a ‘living laboratory’ and network to discuss and plan the long term sustainability of the valley.